Filed by Lionheart III Corp Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Subject Company: Lionheart III Corp Commission File No. 001-41011

Security Matters Announces Business Combination with Lionheart III Corp, Expecting Valuation at US$360 Million on Nasdaq Listing

MELBOURNE and NEW YORK, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – Australian technology company Security Matters Ltd. (ASX: SMX) announces its business combination with Lionheart III Corp. (NASDAQ:LION), a special acquisition purpose company. The combined Nasdaq entity is expected to be valued at US$360 million. The combined entity will list on NASDAQ via a newly-formed Irish company to be named SMX Public Limited Company (“SMX Ireland”). Upon the closing of the business combination, the ordinary shares and warrants of SMX Ireland are expected to trade on NASDAQ under the new ticker symbols “SMX” and “SMXW”, respectively, and SMX shall cease to be quoted on the Australian Stock Exchange (“ASX”)

The value reflects an implied pre-money valuation of the company on the ASX of US$200 million and is anticipated to generate proceeds of up to approximately US$116 million, assuming no redemptions by Lionheart’s public stockholders (noting that recent SPAC transactions have been characterized by high redemption rates). The combined entity is expected to commence trading on Nasdaq in Q4 2022.

“The world is demanding greater transparency, efficiency, and resilience. There is a critical call to action by the global market to do things better. This is a challenge loaded with exciting possibilities that Security Matters is ready to accept by creating products that can help uphold supply-chain integrity, provide quality assurance and brand accountability to producers of goods. With this merger, we have entered a new chapter to boost our capacity to power and enable the circular economy,” said SMX.

Additional information about the merger and proposed transaction will be provided in a current report on form 8-K to be filed by Lionheart with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov as well as online at Iheartcapital.com. SMX expects the filing of the F4 within weeks.

Power and Enable Circular Economy

SMX is an enabler for a real-world circular economy that works by giving materials a memory of their origination and history, that facilitates the materials’ ability to be recycled, reused, and authenticated multiple times.

SMX is a company for the 21st century, enabling a transition to a circular economy that is positive, productive, and profitable for participants in the value chain – and the planet.

Through the company’s white-label B2B offerings, the future of a sustainable world is able to be created by narratives that connect tangible, sustainable, ESG practices with the brand’s transparent traceability strategy, designed to create a profitable lifetime relationship with its customers that is circular rather than linear or transactional.

The System Within

SMX creates a sustainable system within the current value chain system, designed to empower businesses to build a real-world circular economy.

Advancing four key benefits including enhanced data flow and circularity, with exciting knowledge-gathering potential; multiple-stages and multiple-loops traceability; and multiple application possibilities, the SMX system can help change the way businesses operate from the inside out to transform into sustainable ecosystems.

About Lionheart III Corp.,

Lionheart III Corporation is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. For more information, visit: https://lheartcapital.com/our-companies/lionheart-iii/.

About Security Matters Ltd.,

Security Matters has commenced the commercialization of its unique, patented technology that uses a hidden chemical-based ‘barcode’ designed to permanently and irrevocably ‘mark’ any object, be it solid, liquid or gas. The barcode is read using the company’s unique ‘reader’ to access the corresponding stored data, recorded and protected using blockchain technology.

Important Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the potential business combination (the “proposed business combination”), a registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Form F-4”) is expected to be filed by Empatan Public Limited Company, a public limited company incorporated in Ireland with registered number 722009 (the “Parent”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Upon the closing of the proposed business combination, it is expected that the Parent will be the ultimate parent of Lionheart III Corp (“Lionheart”) and Security Matters Limited (“SMX”). The Form F-4 will include a preliminary proxy statement / prospectus to be distributed to holders of Lionheart’s common stock in connection with Lionheart’s solicitation of proxies for the vote of its stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination and other matters as described in the Form F-4, as well as a prospectus relating to the offer and sale of securities to be issued in connection with the completion of the business combination. This document does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combination and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the proposed business combination. Lionheart and SMX urge investors, stockholders and other interested persons to read, when available, the Form F-4, including the proxy statement/prospectus included therein and the amendments thereto as well as any other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed business combination as these materials will contain important information about SMX, Lionheart, the Parent and the proposed business combination. After the Form F-4 has been filed and declared effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to Lionheart’s stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed business combination. Lionheart’s stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of such documents, without charge, once available, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Lionheart III Corp, 4218 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 3313.

INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN.

Participants in the Solicitation of Proxies

This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or securityholder. Lionheart, SMX, and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees, may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Lionheart’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Investors and securityholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Lionheart’s directors and executive officers in Lionheart’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 14, 2022, and other reports filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants will also be included in the Form F-4 that includes the proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes available. When available, these documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

No offer or offering of equity interests or securities of any kind is being made, conducted or extended at this time. This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or include an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, equity interests or securities of any kind or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only in connection with the delivery of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), or exemptions therefrom.

Forward-Looking Statements

This article includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, including the identification of a target business and potential business combination or other such transaction, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the annual report on Form 10-K filed by Lionheart on April 14, 2022. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include: (i) changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; (ii) the inability of SMX and Lionheart to successfully or timely consummate the proposed business combination, including the risk

that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed business combination or that the approval of the stockholders of Lionheart or equity holders of SMX is not obtained; (iii) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination; (iv) SMX’s limited operating history; (v) SMX’s ability to grow and manage its growth effectively; (vi) SMX’s ability to execute its business plan; (vii) SMX’s estimates of the size of the markets for its products; (viii) the rate and degree of market acceptance of SMX’s products; (ix) SMX’s ability to identify and integrate acquisitions; (x) SMX’s future investments in its technology and operations; (xi) potential litigation involving Lionheart or SMX or the validity or enforceability of SMX’s intellectual property; (xii) risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to SMX; (xiii) the effects of competition on SMX’s business; (xiv) developments and changes in laws and regulations; (xv) the impact of significant investigative, regulatory or legal proceedings; (xvi) general economic and market conditions impacting demand for SMX’s products and services; (xvii) the amount of redemption requests made by Lionheart’s public stockholders; (xviii) the amount of cash available following any redemptions by Lionheart stockholders; (xix) the ability to meet Nasdaq’s listing standards following the consummation of the proposed transaction; (xx) the ability of Lionheart or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed business combination or in the future; and such other risks and uncertainties as are discussed in the Lionheart’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 14, 2022 and the proxy statement to be filed relating to the proposed business combination. Other factors include the possibility that the proposed business combination does not close, including due to the failure to receive required security holder approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions. Lionheart expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Lionheart’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.